Nothing changes since last board meeting; business owners form merchants association

continued  Trustee Natalie Miner spoke up about her idea to form a parking committee which would be composed of two village trustees, various businesses owners from East Seneca Street, and between six and ten concerned village residents in order to keep the issue from standing still. She then made a motion to put the committee to action, which was passed by the board. Mayor Serafin asked for all interested parties to notify him as soon as possible in the hope that the idea can be presented at the next board meeting.

During the meeting, Nat Tobin, owner of the Manlius Cinema, stood up and asked if it would be possible to install a strobe lighting crosswalk system at the crosswalk on East Seneca Street by Pavone’s, but the idea was shot down by Serafin. He said the village asked the Department of Transportation last summer about the same idea and is still waiting to hear back.

Afterwards, Tobin said that he and some of the other business owners on the block had formed their own merchants association and had already met for their first official meeting. He said the goal of the group is to get the parking situation resolved and to hold some events to raise awareness.

“When I was president of the Chamber of Commerce, we held a block party where we closed down Wesley Street and had bands playing all day and gave out prizes,” Tobin said. “These are the kinds of things we need to do because nobody else is doing it.”

He also said that during the last two weeks, John Freightenburgh, the owner of Ironwood, had spoken to Magley and his lawyer and that nothing was really accomplished. He said an offer was made to Magley and that it was “laughed down.”

“He wants $1600 per month for 12 spaces and for whoever is paying that to maintain the lot,” Tobin said.